Hobby-horse



(No Model.)

M. BOHLIG.

HOBBY HORSE. No. 439.627. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTIN BOHLIG, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

HOBBY-HORSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,627, dated November 4, 1890. Application filed March 17, 1890- Serial No. 344,165. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARTIN BOHLIG, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self -Propelling Hobby- Horses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to selfpropelling hobby-horses; and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter shown, described, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation, of the invention complete.

A represents the base or platform mounted on forward wheels B and rear wheels B the latter rigidly attached to the shaft or axle B so that the wheels and axle turn together.

D is a sloping board, hinged at its lower or forward end at a to the base A, and supported at its rear or upper end by a spring E, and also carrying the seat F and foot-board F The sides G will preferably be made to represent horses, to give a more lifelike and attractive appearance to the device.

Upon the axle B at or near its center, is secured a disk or collar H, having ratchetteeth in its rim and inclosed by a casing H loose upon the axle B and having pawls H engaging with the teeth of the ratchet, as shown in Fig.1.

A strap K connects the rear of the seat F to the casing H while a spring L is wound around the axle B and connected by its ends to some part of the baseA or its attachments and to the casing H as shown in Fig. 2. The spring L is so arranged that its force is expended upon the casing to revolve it backward, while the spring E, by forcing the board upward, causes the strap K to keep the casin g H in its upward position, and thus counteract the influence of the spring L.

The operation is very simple, and is as follows: When the child in the seat exerts itsforce in jumping, it will compress the spring E and permit the spring L to revolve the casing H over the ratchet-s, and thus wind up the strap K around its outer surface as a drum, and then when the child throws itself forward the reaction of the spring will unwind the strap and revolve the casing and the latter, being connected by the pawls H and ratchets to the shaft B will be revolved forward, and thus move the platform with it and cause the vehicle to move forward in a series of leaps.

The more rapid and vigorous the motions of the child, the longer and more rapid will be the movements of the device.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is A self-propelling hobby-horse consisting of a base A, mounted upon carrier-wheels, a sloping board supporting a seat and hinged at its lower end to said base, a spring K, interposed between the free end of said sloping board and the base, a clutch upon one of the axles of said carrier-wheels, a spring connecting said clutch and said base, and a strap connecting said sloping board or seat and said clutch, whereby motion imparted to said sloping board causes said base and its attachments to be moved forward in successive movements, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MARTIN BOHLIG,

Witnesses:

G. N. WOODWARD, HARRY H. DEAN. 

